Here at Spiral Stairs Direct we love spiral staircases and the way they can amazingly transform a building. In this article we look at five famous spiral staircases from around the world and share them with you. Hopefully you’ll enjoy these designs as much as we do.

1) Museo de Pobo Galego, Spain

Set in the former monastery called the Santo Domingo de Bonaval is the Museo de Pobo Galego (Museum of the Galician People). Based in the north-eastern city of Santiago de Compostela this spiral staircase is the first in our review. The triple helical spiral staircase stretches from the ground floor and connects visitors to the other floors of the building and is a wonderful photo opportunity waiting to happen.

2) The Great Fire Monument, London

The next spiral staircase is the one housed within the great fire of London monument. Situated near the northern end of London Bridge is the monument to all those who died in the great fire of London in 1666. The monument is located in the exact spot where the fire of London started in Pudding Lane. This spiral staircase is very spectacular and features 311 steps contained within a mesh cage.

3) Hartenfels Castle, Torgau, Germany

Hartenfels Castle is the only preserved castle relating to the German Renaissance period and boasts wondrous period architecture. Not least of the fine architecture is the Wendelstein spiral staircase, this looks quite wondrous after its painstaking restoration.

When work commenced on the build of the staircase back in 1537 it was deemed to be the “impossible staircase” to build. This sandstone seashell staircase manages to support itself without the support of central pillars and is an amazing sight.

4) The Baroque Melk Abbey, Austria

Overlooking the Austrian town of Melk is the delightful Melk Abbey. A standout feature within the Abbey is the ornately baroque designed marble spiral staircase which connects the church on the first floor to the library. This provides access to twelve library rooms containing over 100,000 volumes, many of which are extremely valuable. The staircase is predominantly pink with old patterns and blue rails and is a truly stunning piece of baroque design.

The spiral staircase at the Baroque Melk Abbey, Austria

5) Guggenheim Museum, New York

The spiral staircase at the Guggenheim Museum helped form the shape of the exterior of the building designed by Frank Wright. Initially subject to much criticism (much like the Eiffel Tower was) the building is now a firm favourite in the city and with Architects around the world.

Architect Wright specifically chose a spiral shape as an important feature of the design. As the spiral staircase curves upwards light enters the building at each new level giving the museum a great natural luminous night and a sense of tranquility.

The shape of the exterior of the Guggenheim Museum owes much to its internal spiral staircase